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Jan 29, 2010

Investing in a Classic Wardrobe

I have learned from a pretty young age that it is alright to spend money on clothes, as long as it is a wise choice. Learning from Savvy Mom, I tend to pick pretty simple pieces which will stand the test of time when I have to shell out lots of gold coins. After all, if I am to invest a pretty penny on a Chanel, Dior, or Armani piece, it better last a while. People often think I spend a lot of money every season, which is completely false. I do buy a piece here and there but my collection is accumulated through years of wise picking. I do not refer to clothes and bags as investment because my dad informs me bags and clothes do not pay out dividend. Rude, right!Anyhoo, I added a Chanel sweater coat in dark gray this past Christmas. It is rather plain but it is as I like it. I adore the simple silhouette and the shape of the coat. Of course the workmanship is superb as with other Chanel pieces. This piece won't jump out at you, but I know I will adore it for years to come.What I am Wearing:-Cream pleated Emporio Armani sweater-Dark Seven jeans-Chanel wool/cashmere sweater coat-Tod's beige platform heels

What about you, how do you shop for your wardrobe?

I wish everyone a great weekend. So much has happened to me in the last few weeks, I am going to take a little me time to get myself back in order. I will announce the winner of pearl necklace giveaway on Monday. Have a great weekend!!!

Classic is always in style (except that I can't bring myself to wearing pleated slacks any longer). Although, I can't bring myself to shelling out serious $ on St. John or Chanel unless it's REALLY on deep discount, I stick with simple details, clean lines but will buy trendy shoes to set everything else off.

Very cute sweater. My mom was always very thrifty so she never taught me to invest in pricey staples, but as I've grown older I've recognized the value in doing this. Now, I have a happy combination of trendy inexpensive clothes and classy pricier ones. I'm happy meeting in the middle!

I'm also trying to buy items that only go with multiple other pieces or have multiple purposes. I came home to my wardrobe at my parent's place and am totally overwhelmed! So classic pieces for the most part with some fun things in between!

Great coat! I love your shopping philosophy. My budget lets me get the occasional splurge but a lot of my things are from regular stores. Regardless, I believe it pays off to take care of ALL your things as though they're priceless. Good care goes a long way!

I think your philosophy is spot on. I tend to pick timeless pieces that are simple and easy to work with in a variety of styles. Kind of sad: I still wear some of the same pieces I did in middle school roughly 15 years ago.

I go back and forth on this. I agree that spending money on timeless, high-quality basics will never be a bad decision. But I have a tendency to spend money on timeless pieces that are a little quirky. For me, a DVF dress was a mega splurge at full price. It's a classic wrap, but it has the bold ginkgo leaf print. And now I have my eye on the YSL arty ring. Sure, I could pick up a cocktail ring at F21, but a standout piece is worth it sometimes.

I think that as long as you are buying wisely and pieces that you hold on to for a long time, like you have, that's a great way to shop. For me, I definitely do have a price point limit depending on items - for example, an "expensive" handbag in my wardrobe is $50 - but I have definitely learned to be more choosy about what I purchase and make sure that if I spend money on something that is "expensive" to me, that it has quality to stand up to the price.

This is the only way to shop! Invest in pieces that never go out of style (that pays dividends every time you *don't* get a new coat/bag/etc. but instead go closet shopping!) and splurge just a little bit on accessories if you want to put your outfit "in season". And you'll always look supercute and stylish rather than just trendy =)

I scope out the pieces I want early in the season, and stalk them until they come on sale. I also check websites like Retail Me Not and Rue La La almost obsessively so that when designer I love is featured, I can snap their pieces quickly.

Gorgeous Chanel sweater and those heels are just stunning too. I totally agree with you wardrobe philosophy; always buy the things that are classic and versatile to get the most out of your wardrobe. -Marz

I really like the sweater. I also like to invest in classic pieces. I realized when I moved to the US that here it's more quantity vs. quality. People like to wear a new thing every day of the year. In Europe, it's more buy a few key pieces, and wear them throughout the year(s). Nobody looks at you funny if you wear an outfit twice in a month.

I love your Chanel coat, it was a very smart buy. I always try to save my money for pieces that will last longer but then am enticed by the possibility of buying cheaper clothes. Since I am still young (only 18!) I think this is fine but I'm sure when I get older I will be a smarter shopper.

I totally agree with your fashion views. People equally think that I have tons of apparel, but not. My secret is in pairing things up differently, leaving certain pieces in the closet for a while, only to be rediscovered later, spicing outfits up with accessories and getting pieces that stand the test of time.

That Chanel coat is so gorgeous. My goal is to get a Chanel staple too. One day.

Now that I'm well into my 30's, I'm trying to be a lot wiser about my clothing budget. It was okay to buy that cheap-and-cheerful trendy stuff when I was younger, but you hit a certain age where that stuff just looks cheap. You also hit an age where you know your own style better and can pick and choose your pieces more wisely. I have small children, so I still can't dress head-to-toe in anything that I can't stand to see ruined by someone smearing peanut butter on it, but one nice piece once in a while, mixed with my machine-washable basics, is a very nice thing to have.